THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1980
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THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS INCREASED BY SEVEN POINTS IN BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B). ADVERSE WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH TYPHOON JOE CAUSED THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND SALT-WATER FISH TO INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY. INCREASES WERE ALSO RECORDED IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH-WATER FISH, FRESH FRUITS, LIVE POULTRY, PORK AND BEEF. THE COST OF MEALS BOUGHT IN RESTAURANTS ALSO WENT UP. EFFECTS OF THE MOVEMENTS IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS ON THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
THE INDEX FOR HOUSING INCREASED BY THREE POINTS IN BOTH INDICES AS HIGHER RENT WAS REGISTERED IN PRIVATE DWELLINGS.
THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT INCREASED BY SIX POINTS EACH IN THE TWO INDICES DUE TO HIGHER PRICES FOR KEROSENE AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS AS WELL AS HIGHER CHARGES FOR ELECTRICITY.
THE ONE-POINT INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR IN BOTH CP1(A) AND CPI(B) WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER PRICES FOR MEN'S AND WOMEN'S OUTERCLOTHING ITEMS AND FOOTWEAR.
HIGHER PRICES FOR WOODEN FURNITURE, WATCHES AND TRAVEL GOODS INCREASED THE INDEX FOR DURABLE GOODS BY ONE POINT EACH IN BOTH INDICES.
THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS INCREASED BY TWO POINTS IN CPI(A) AND THREE POINTS IN CPI(B) BECAUSE OF HIGHER PRICES FOR MEDICINES, TOILET REQUISITES AND GENUINE JEWELLERY.
THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES INCREASED BY ONE POINT IN BOTH INDICES AS A RESULT OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR FERRY FARES AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUS FARES AND HIGHER PRICE FOR GASOLINE.
THE ONE-POINT RISE IN THE INDEX FOR SERVICES IN BOTH INDICES WAS MAINLY BROUGHT ABOUT BY HIGHER CHARGES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND HAIRDRESSING.
PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
DETAILS OF THESE PRICE MOVEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN THE +CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT FOR JULY 1980, WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT $2 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE IN THE GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE.
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